Auto block-signal



E. NICHOLAS.

AUTO BLOCK SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1919.

1,345,218, Patented June 29, 1920.

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AUTO BLOCK SIGNAL. APPLICATION FILED JUNEIZ, 1919.

Patented June 29, 1920.

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. ward/V lowing to be a full, clear, and'exact UNITED STATES P'ATENTOFFICE.

EDWARD NICHOLAS, 0F KOKOMO, INDIANA. I

AUTO BLOCK-SIGNAL.

Application filed June 12,

To all whom, it may COI'LGGP'H Be'it known that I, EDWARD NIcHoLAs, a cit zen of the United States,res1d1ng at i Kokomo, in the county of Howard and State of lndlana, have invented certain new an useful Improvements in Auto Block-' Si nals; and I do hereby declare the foldescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful 1m provements in auto block signals adapted tobe attached to an automobile and affording means whereby semaphores having signs thereon, indicating the movements of the car as to whether or not the same isto turn to the left or right, stop, back or go ahead,

and consists of a simple device of this charis provided acter which may be applied to various makes of cars.

The invention conslsts ofa device of this character which may be clamped to the body of a car and provided with push buttons within thezcar for the convenience of the ()II'2.t0[ who may cause the signals to be d wed while within a closed car and VvltllOllt the necessity of the operator using his arm to make the signal. v 1 illustrate mycinvention in the accompanying drawings which, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form apart of this application, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation, Fig. 2 is a side elevation, Fig.3 is a detail in elevation of'a selector plate, Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in elevation partly in section, and

Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views. a

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11113 29, 1920.

1919. Serial no. 303,572.

displayed the car is to turn to the right, another indicating that the caris to turn to the left, another that the car is to stop, another that it is to back up and the fifth that the car is to go straight ahead. While I have illustrated five of these semaphores.

it is obvious that I do not confine myself to any certain number. Each disk hasan integral weighted portion 7 notched as at Sand the several notchesare adapted to register when the semaphores are in their normal closed positions. It will be understood that the weighted portion of each semaphore when released will cause the latter tobe thrown to a horizontal position,

"its upper limit being regulated by the bailshaped member 13 fastened to the casing, and which has a yielding movement tending to gradually stop the semaphore when i it reaches its horizontal position.

it series of levers 14 are pivotally mounted upon a pin 15 (see Fig. 4) and springs 16, secured to the top of the casing, bear one "against each lever tendinguto hold the same frictionally against the convexed edge 18 of a weighted portion of the disk, and

provided for the purpose of holding the semaphore normally in a closed position within the casing. One of the paddles,

adapted to'bear the word Stop has-a.

handle 19 secured'thereto and which forms means for returning the same individually to its starting position whereas the other handle 19 may be utilized for returning any one or all of the semaphores to their normal positions.

Secured to the two levers 14 and the push buttons 20 each having a stem extending through an aperture in the top and each push button bearing the indication upon the particular paddle to which it is attached.

A buffer member 21 is fastened in: the

casing between the side walls and against which the edge of the weighted portion of the disk carrying a semaphore is adapted to contact in order to prevent pm when the.

weight reaches its lowest limit.

In order to illuminate the signals, electric lamps 22 are mounted upon the opposite sides of the casing and which may be connected with batteries, and also provided with switch means for throwing same on'or off, but which form no part of the present invention.

In operation, the device is preferably ap-' .whichflatter may be employed for returning plied to the side of the car adjacent to the operator, usually upon the left side and clamped to the body of the car.'

When it is desired 'to' indicate as to whether or not the car is to turn to the right, left, stop, back up or go ahead, the operator will depress a certain push button Which will cause the semaphore desired 'to be displayed to be released and the weighted portion of the semaphore will cause the lattcr to "be thrown to a horizontal display- 'ing position. When it is desired "to return th'e'sema'phore to its normal position, it may be done by the operator merely raising the handle, throwing the paddle to its normal position and the spring frictionally engag- Iing theconvexed end of the weighted portion will :normally'hold the paddle within the casing. s

One of the .pa'ddles,*as will be noted, has a distinct :and separate handle and which is upon "the one adapted to bear'the word Stop, and which may be returned to its normal position, after having been displayed, independent of the other lever any one or all off. the other semaphores to their 'normal positions By the provision of an apparatusembodyingthe features of vmy invention, it willbe noted that an auto block safety signal means is provided whereby one or all of the signals may be operated and at night illuminated by the lights, and while I have shown an apparatus as operatedmanually, it will be understood that either electrical or other mechanical means may be utilized without in any way departing from the spirit ol the invention. i

It will be understood that the device may be fastened upon the car in any other way,

as to the wind shield or to the .door if de Tsemaphore to a displayed position, and a lever pivoted within the casing and adapted to normally return the semaphores within the casing.

2. An automaticblock signal for automobiles to designatethe movement of a car,

consisting of a casing,a series of semaphores pivotally mountedtherein and bearing 1ndicatlng words thereon, a weighted member connected to each semaphore, and means for releasing the weighted member to permit the weighted portion to throw the semaphore to a displayed position, a member pivoted within the casing and having a laterally extending arm adapted to engage the weighted portions of the semaphores, and a lever se-- cured to said arm affording meanswhereby 'as the lever is raised said arm is adapted to contact with the weightedportions of the semaphores and tilt the same backgwithin the casing.

3. An automatic block signal for automobiles to designate the movement. of a car, consisting of a. casing, a series of semaphores pivotal'lymounted therein and bearing indicating words thereon,"a weighted. member connected to each semaphore, a

series of push buttons, pivotal'levers actuated by said push buttons, and springs for holding the levers in frictional contact-with said weighted portions,the latter when re-' leased adapted to throw the semaphores to v v displaying positions, and meansfor returnmg the semaphores to their normal positlons.

et. An automatic block signalyfor. aut0mo-' biles to designate the movement of a car,

consisting of a casing, a series aofosemaphores pivotally mounted therein and bearing indicating words thereon, a welghted member connected to each semaphore, a series of push buttons, pivotal levers actuated by said push buttons, and springs for. holding therlevers I weighted portions, the latter when released in frictional contact with said adapted to throw the semaphores to dis- 7 playing positions, each oi? said weighted por tions havinga recess formed in the edge thereof, a verticalmember mounted within the casing and having a laterally extending arm adapted to engage said vrecesses, a handle secured to-each-arm and PI OJGOlHII'g 7 through the slot in the casing. Y 7 In test-imonyfa hereof I hereunto'aflix my signature. 7 V

v EDWAR NIciioLAs. j 

